Did It Get Better? The Realities of Queer and Trans Youth of Color in K-12 Schools

The lived experiences of queer and trans people of color (QTPOC) youth are significantly influenced by the various environments they navigate – including but not limited to their families, schools, neighborhoods, communities, and workplaces. QTPOC youth – or queer and trans youth who identify as Asian American, Black/African American, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latinx, or/and multiracial – are susceptible to multiple forms of oppression that are embedded in racism, sexism, transphobia, heterosexism, and more. This paper seeks to highlight perspectives of QTPOC youth – particularly how intersectional identities, discrimination, and victimization influence school experiences and negative educational outcomes. We underscore three major areas that educators must be aware of when working with this subgroup: (a) common experiences for QTPOC youth; (b) QTPOC youth school experiences; and (c) psychosocial determinants affecting school violence. Furthermore, we provide recommendations to consider for working with QTPOC youth, specifically for teachers, school administrators, and families and communities.